The Main Programme
The key elements of the programme are:
· A five-day interactive experiential workshop, originally delivered by Trevor Long and Nikki Swan
This workshop is now delivered by Buba K Touray, Lamin L Touray and Mansey Jabang.
This followed the successful train the trainer programme
· An actively managed peer support network for programme participants
· Ongoing mentoring support visits for participants.
· A programme of continuing development events on key micro-business topics called ‘Share’ events.
· broader networking events
Programme Design
The programme was designed following an extended period of research with Gambian national and local groups, stakeholders and potential participants, including village community groups, village leaders, current and future micro-business owners, other training and education providers, Government Ministers, and The British High Commissioner.
Putting aside Western business terms, constructs, models, tools and techniques, we designed the programme from scratch to meet the unique challenges and characteristics of The Gambia and Gunjur.
Workshop
The Workshop is central. Recognising that even the most fundamental micro-business ideas and practices would be unfamiliar to most participants, we produced a course from first principles. We employ local practices and terminology to explore hard skills including financial management, marketing, supply chain and production, and soft skills around self-awareness, inter-personal skills and customer relationships.
As an interactive workshop, and designed to help participants develop their own ideas to the point at which they could start or grow their micro-business, activities involve short talks, small group discussions, role-play and participants presentations. Using a tree as a metaphor, we integrate each key skill to form the basis of a business plan. Each participant develops their own tree diagram and outline business plan.
Peer Support Network
Ongoing support and encouragement is essential for new micro-business owners. Participants are invited to join the network of all programme cohorts, involving ongoing conversations between participants, trainers and facilitators on the virtual platform, WhatsApp.
Mentoring Support
Every micro-business and participant have unique needs. In addition to the network, individual support is available for all participants, either by bringing an issue directly to us, or through the regular visits that are made to participants by the Programme Director and Officers.
Share Events
These are organised approximately monthly and are half day events where topics from the workshop are explored in more depth to help solidify the previous learning. These are called ‘share events’ as participants work together on issues affecting many of them such as how to keep records for their businesses and share giving each other peer support.
Networking Events
These are held approximately six monthly and bring together people from all the different workshop cohorts. They address cross cutting themes which effect everyone in the business community.
Micro-Loan Scheme
This scheme is currently on hold whilst it is fully evaluated and further funding is found to manage the scheme.
Training Trainers
From the start, we sought to work in partnership with the community. We wished to hand the programme to the community once established, around 2024/5. In preparation for this hand over, future trainers were progressively trained for its delivery and the first successful workshop using these trainers was held in April 2025.